Raimondo pitches school construction plan to lawmakers

April 4, 2018

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Governor Gina Raimondo has told lawmakers her plan for school construction is a chance to make a “once-in-a-generation” investment.

Raimondo called the plan, which was part of a $9.4 billion budget proposal released in January, a $1 billion solution for a $1 billion problem. The plan calls for asking voters to authorize $250 million in bonds for the first phase of funding.

The comments came during testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Education. Raimondo called on lawmakers to help her “do something big” and said every student deserves a school that is safe, warm and dry.

The administration wants to allocate $80 million for school construction annually for five years, or $400 million. Another $350 million is expected from municipalities.